Eye-cup.



B. C. HEATH.

EYE CUP.

APPLICATION. FILED mm 14. 1917.

1,24%,498. Patented @Gi. 30,1917.

" Tait BRUCE C; HEATH, OF LO'UISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

EYE-our.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patent d a t 30 191.7;

Application filed May 14, 1917. Serial No. 168,360.

To all whom it may concern:

not as generally used as they shouldbe, ow-

ing to the inconvenience attending their use. It being necessary, afterthe placing of a fluid in the cup, to lean forward, thus bring-' ing the face into a horizontal plane, before adjusting the cup to the eye, to avoid spilling the liquid. 'Then to lean backward until the face assumes a horizontal position thus' inverting the'cup and bringing the fluid into contact with the eye, laying being accomplished by openingnnd closingthe eye lid.

Anyfluid that may escape from under the edge of the cup, trickles down the face and onto the clothing. furtherlobjection to I the use of the conventional eye cup,isftha t, any detritus, orinfectious matter that may be loosened by the laving is not carried out of, and away from the eye, but remains suspended in the lavage fluid within the eye, and is even carried thereby to other points as yet uninfected.

An object of this invention is to provide an eye cup with which the eye may be bathed without moving the head to an abnormal position.

A further object is to provide an eye cup that is sanitary inasmuch as that foreign, or infectious material will be removed from the eye by the fluid applied thereto, which will not again come in contact therewith, fresh fluid only coming in touch with the \Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, wherein is set forth an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that such changes and modifications may be resorted to as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein similar reference characters designate likev parts in the several views, Figure 1, is a con tral vertical longitudinal section of an eye cup, constructed in accordance Wllill my invention, an attached removable compressible bulb being shown in elevation: Fig. 2, a central transverse section ofFig. 1: Figs. 3 and 4:, are central longitudinal sectional views of modified forms of my invention and Fig. 5, a detail in elevation;

In the drawing" the reference numeral -1- designates a cup or bowl, of conventional, or suitable design, the brim of which is so shaped as to conform to the contourof the eye, and which maybe formed of any suitable material such-as rubber, aluminum,

or glass. Froma suitable point on the periphery of the cup, preferably thelower portion thereof, there is extended suitable means, such as a nipple +2 for the attachment thereto of suitable means, such as a compressible rubber bulb 3- whereby a current, of fluid maybe projected through a passage '-ilintothe interior of the cup.

This passage extends through the nipple and] follows the contour of the cup, preferably at 7 one end thereof, being formed inthe body of; .the cup, and extends to within a spaced distance of the top thereof. An abutment --5 positioned on the body of the cup opposite the outlet of the passage serves to deflect the issuing fluid. A wall of the cup is provided with an aperture 6 which is surrounded on the inner side by a raised portion 7 which prevents circulating liquid from escaping therethrough. The aperture is positioned on or near the level of the upper end of the passage 4. The bulb is preferably provided with a flat bottom in order that it may serve as a base to uphold the cup. The mode of use is as follows: A quantity of fluid, medicated if desired, is placed in the bulb. The quantity of fluid placed in the bulb should be such that when forced into the cup it will not come up to the outlet of ment 5 so that it strikes the eye at the outer canthus at such. an angle that it sweeps across the surface, loosening and carrying ILISI 7 with it any foreign substance, the force of the stream dependlng upon the pressure ap'- plied to the bulb, and emerging at the-inner canthus, whence it falls to the bottom of the cup. It will be observed that fresh fluid only contacts with the eye, that used fluid, Which'may'have infectious matter in suspension, is not again brought into contact with,

the eye, consequently there is no danger of carrying infection .to uninfected portions by the use of this improved eye cup. In, Fig. 3, I have shown a modified construction.

wherein instead of forming a. passage in the body of the cup, 3 tube l0 is employed, it being bent, to conform to the contour of the cup, and the lower end of the tube being fitted'into apassage-11-, which extends through thenipple 2, where it maybe secured, by suitable means suchas. cementing.- The tube 10, conformsto the contour ofand liesalong the inner, surface ofan .end of the cup, extending to within. a spacedzdistance of.'the upper edge thereof. The upper end of the, tube 10 is provided with. a, wing.

1 4: whichs'erves todeflect issuing fluidv so thatv it willfimpinge upon the eye: at a suitable angle .v A straight tube -12 may be. used, in V which case it will stand erect; in they cup and, extend t0v Within a spaced distance ofthetop thereof, in this caseissuing fluidwill contact with theeye nearthe center. thereof and'fiow ineaoh; direction ,thereover, the used fluidaccumulating in the cup below thetop of the tube, While cementing has been mentioned as a means of securingthe tubes inpositioinit is tobe understood that they thereto may make anduse thesame, I claim:

1.,A cupadapted to beappliedto an eye,

comprising ajbowha; nipple extended from. the surface. thereof; andlhaving a passage leading therethrough into the interior of the cup and a tube remolvably positionedinsaid passage, and extendingthroughthe cup to.-

within a spaced distance of the brim thereof.

2. .A cup .adaptedto be, applied to an eye, comprisinga bowl, a nipple extended from the, surface thereof and having a passage leadingtherethrough into the interior ofithe cup, and a tube reinovably positioned in said'passage, said tube being bent toconform to and extending alongtheinner surface of the cup to within aspaced'distance of the. brim,

3. An eyecup,a nipple extended from the surface the eof nd thaw g. a.passage.,1eading therethrough into. the interior of" the cu,p, a" tube removably, seatedin said. passage, said;

tube being, bent tic/conform to and ext n ing a g heside 0f;tli ;0up 0 Within a spaced; distance ofthe brim, andja Wing onthe end of said tube adaptedto deflect issuing fluid.

BRUGE HEATH.

Gopieaof this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissionerof 'l atents Washington, D; G. 

